Calix said nothing for a while on the drive to wherever he was taking her. Cassia was wary. Sheโd made her getaway from the bedroom that morning as an act of self-protection. Could he be angry because she hadnโt been there when heโd woken up? But surely thatโs all heโd wanted? Sex. She wouldnโt be surprised if heโd expected her to go back to her own room afterwards, to come to him only as some kind of concubine. And then she coloured as she remembered how tired sheโd been afterwards, how she hadnโt been able to move another muscleโฆShe looked over. His profile was grim. His jaw was stern. She felt like reaching across and kissing that jaw, making him relax and teasing him into a smile; like the one sheโd seen earlier, which had been for Thea, not her. He hated her. She knew he did. Despite what heโd said, he had to. She represented such an awful time in his life, when everything had conspired against him and heโd been totally alone against them all. She had to turn and look away again
When he probed, she sighed; his tongue touched the seam of her lips, and she opened a little more. But still he didnโt enter. Her nerve ends tingled, and her blood hummed. She lifted her hands to his shoulders, trying to tell him silently that she was giving in, acquiescing, and then she knew exactly what he wanted. Tentatively at first, she darted her tongue forward in an erotically innocent foray, touched his mouth, traced his lips... and then delved into that dark moistness of his mouth, feeling emboldened and heady when his tongue finally met and tangled with hers.She felt a hand under her loose top cup on one breast, a thumb pad running back and forth over her nipple. Her tongue thrust harder, and she arched her back, pressing her breast into his palm. And then, as if a light switch had gone on, he pulled back, put his hands on her shoulders, and looked deeply into her shocked, glazed eyes.โSee? Thatโs all we need to worry aboutโฆfor as long as it lasts, weโre going to be marrie
Despite her best efforts, she knew she was close to tears again, and she turned away again. Even though they were in a park in the middle of Athens, the city lay somewhere beneath them, silent. She willed him away, willed him not to touch her, and he must have felt it because he didnโt. She found herself speaking quietly and quickly.โAfter Mum and Dad died, I had no interest in the business. I never had. You know that. Even if you say you didnโt. I gave my uncle those shares. I didnโt sell them. I couldnโt.โ She turned around again and as he was closer than sheโd anticipated, she backed away another step. โWhat kind of person do you think I am?โStupid question, Cassia...He felt at a loss, amazed at her passionate reaction. Her expressive eyes shining blue and green. And I thought, "The kind of person most of us would be in that situation, who would demand every penny of their inheritance..."โCassiaโโ"I'd already gotten a loan, and Rastus only gave me enough to cover the interest.
His hand smoothed its way down her collar-bone to the space between her breasts where her heart was beating steadily, and speeding up when he shifted them subtly and a leg came over hers, nudging them apart. The frisson of awareness, the hunger and need after a night of love-making scared her with its intensity. Today they were going back to Paris. Back to reality, back to the cruel, harsh world of media and photographers and reminders that all was not what it seemed.She turned her head and opened her eyes. Her pain was buried deep and hidden inside her. He pressed a kiss to her lips, long and lingering, and drew her up on top of him so that her breasts were crushed against his chest. His hands spanned her waist and moved her up and then down slightly, where she could feel the powerful thrust of his erection.She was already wet and ready for him. She slid her legs on either side of his hips and rocked back gently, coming up slightly, and sucked in a deep breath when she felt him thr
Sheโd closed her eyes briefly. The more time they spent together, the sooner heโd want to get rid of her. Maybe it was the best solution.โIโll only do it out of respect for my area, for this building. I canโt afford to be thrown out because Iโm causing a disturbance.โCassia walked over to the window of his palatial living room and looked out. They were between the Ritz Hotel and the Jardin des Tuileries. A truly spectacular address And she couldn't have given a damn.She could have been in the gritty suburbs for all she cared, as long as she was away from him. She sighed deeply. because she knew that wasnโt true.Calix watched her back from the door. It was ramrod straight, her hands stuck into the back pockets of her jeans. Her cashmere cardigan buttoned down the back, making his fingers itch to go and unbutton it, run his hands around to her front and up to cup her breasts. He could feel their warmth and weight in his hands.She was getting him hard just looking at her back!She wa
Cassiaโs feet ached. She had visions of buckets of hot water and Epsom salts. She smiled and greeted the umpteenth person coming in through the heavily decorated damask-covered doors. The memorial for Pierre Baudat was a celebration of his lifeโs work. A-listers from all over the world were there. This was the biggest event sheโd been given so far, and sheโd been working night and day to get it organized. She hadnโt failed to notice how Calixโs bemusement over recent days had turned to irritation pretty quickly. No doubt, she thought bitterly, this wasnโt part of the game plan. A wife who worked."Well, tough," she told herself. and knew that sheโd probably put in more hours than necessary. As far as avoidance tactics went, she was a master of the game. Extreme self-protection. Keep busy to avoid the pain of seeing Calix every day. She was sure itโd only be a matter of time now before sheโd receive divorce papers, and then she could start to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Bec
โCassia.โ His face darkened. "Would you prefer if I told people how we came to be married?" that you betrayed me and I took advantage of meeting you again to take a convenient wife?She shook her head miserably. An ache formed in her throat as he put two hands on her arms and pulled her close again.She hated herself for reacting, even now. Her head felt heavy as she looked up.He brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. โWe do have a real marriage, Cassia. As real as it can be in this day and age. We have great sexโโHis words tore at her. "Yes, but thatโs all." If we didnโt, you would have divorced me as soon as you could after the wedding, and I wish you had, believe me.Two bright spots had appeared on her cheeks, and Calix could feel her chest heaving against his.Cassia couldnโt tear her gaze away from his. The room had disappeared, they could have been anywhere. Heat coiled in her belly like a live wire, her breasts tingled and pushed against the fabric of her dress. Cali
With easy strength, he lifted her up, her legs automatically coming around his waist, and with her back resting against the door, with one smooth movement, he surged up and into her, piercing her moist silken flesh with his. She gripped his neck and stifled her gasp of pure pleasure against his heated skin and the corded muscles that spoke of his effort to control himself.Time and time again, he thrust himself into her heart, taking them both on a roller-coaster ride more intense than ever before. When he thrust upwards for the final time, Cassiaโs whole body shook with the violence of her orgasm and shook still as he threw back his head and allowed himself to spill into her, his release unending. It took a long time for the room to right itself or for either of them to have the strength to extricate themselves. Calix lowered her gently back down, and Cassiaโs legs couldnโt hold her up. They buckled, and she would have fallen if he hadnโt caught her and swung her into his arms. She b
He moved suddenly, turned to her, and gripped her arms; she glimpsed the desperation in his eyes as he dragged her against his chest. "I will do whatever it takes to win you back, Kalila." "You are my wife, the love of my life, and I wonโt let you go." His warm breath fanning the curls that framed her face, he pressed his lips to her temple, his eyes briefly closing as if in pain."I have told my father to name his brother Sulim as the interim ruler of Qubbah in the event of his dying before Hazem comes of age." Kate stared at him, shocked beyond words. "But... but why?" she finally stumbled.I thought that you were to rule until Hazem was older. "You are the Kingโs only son, and it is your duty." Ahsan shook his head. "My first duty is to my wife, and my father agrees." Even if he did not, I would still be here for you."Don't you understand, Kalila?" he asked urgently. "You are more important to me than Qubbah, my father, everything." You, me, and Hazem are a family, and the only thin
The still silence in the garden that followed his astounding statement was broken by the piercingly sweet song of a blackbird. Kate licked her suddenly dry lips, her heart beating so fast she was sure it would explode. "I donโt understand.""Itโs quite simple." He sounded impatient and stared at her haughtily. But to her amazement, streaks of dull color highlighted his cheekbones, and his eyes veered from hers as if he were afraid to meet her gaze. "I love you, Kate."Her rebuttal was fierce and immediate. "No, you donโt.""I should have known you would want to argue about it, Kalila." A little of his tension left him, and his smile stole her breath."You donโt love me," she said again. It was probably some cruel trick, and she had more sense than to be fooled. "You married me for Hazem." You love Farrah. Malika said so.Malika said a lot of things, most of them untrue. Ahsanโs voice was suddenly harsh."But not the things she said about me," Kate said thickly. "My mother was a prosti
The blue sky was dotted with cotton wool clouds, and the warm breeze carried a scent of lavender and old-fashioned roses. There was no place on earth more beautiful than Ingledean on a spring day, Kate musedโexcept an oasis in the middle of the desert, where palm trees provided shade from the scorching sun and an azure pool glinted beneath a cloudless sky.She had been home for a monthโalthough Ingledean no longer felt like home without Hazem. The image of his huge brown eyes and impish smile caused the familiar agonizing pain in her chest, and she bit down hard on her lip, tasted blood, and cursed the tears that slid unchecked down her face. She couldnโt cry forever. Somehow she was going to have to find the strength to move on, pick up the threads of her life, or maybe make a new one, far away from Ingledean and all its memories. But since she had left Qubbah, a terrible lassitude had settled on her, and she could not plan anything when the only two people she loved were far away on
In less than an hour, she was expected to attend the lavish dinner organized in honor of King Kabirโs recovery and his return as supreme ruler of Qubbah. And somehow she was going to have to do so without revealing that she was breaking up inside, which Kate acknowledged despairingly as she stared in the mirror at her paper-white face and red-rimmed eyes.When she first returned to the palace after her explosive confrontation with Malika, she locked herself in her dressing room and recalled, in stunned disbelief, everything the young Arab woman had told her. Could it be true? Had Ahsan always intended to divorce her once heโd gained custody of Hazem and marry his beautiful advisor?She did not know how long sheโd sat there, but eventually her maid had knocked on the door and reminded her that it was time to prepare for the banquet. She should have made the excuse that she was illโno one who saw her pallor would fail to believe her. But the steely backbone of pride that had seen her th
Despite the warmth of the early-evening sunshine, Kate shivered. "Youโre talking nonsense," she said firmly, striving to sound confident despite the sudden lurch of her heart. She was perfectly aware of why Ahsan had married her, but he had given no hint that he wanted a divorce. Ahsan told me he was never engaged to you. She lifted her chin and glared at Malika, trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach."He wasnโt," Malika agreed, looking surprised. "I was engaged to Farhan; Ahsan was engaged to Farrah."The world seemed to tilt alarmingly for a few seconds, and Kate actually gripped the edge of the wall for support. Ahsan and Farrah! It couldnโt possibly be true, could it? "Jamila told me that Ahsan was in love with his fiancรฉe," she said faintly. "She doesnโt know why the marriage didnโt take place."Malika gave a careless shrug. โJamila knows. Everyone at the palace knows that Ahsan adored Farrah and that she eloped with his brother on the eve of their wedding.
He was suddenly aware that the children had finished their dance and everyone was waiting for his response. Kate had turned her head to him, frowning at his inattention, and he quickly clapped his hands in applause. Once the dancers had filed out of the marquee, his personal assistant Zaid appeared at his side and informed him that a group of local potters had brought their best work for his gracious inspection. Stifling a sigh, he led the royal party out into the blazing sunshine.The garden party continued all afternoon, and Ahsan was not in the best of moods when he strode back to the palace. He suddenly realized that he was too far ahead and slowed his pace, waiting for Kate to catch up with him. He frowned when he noted how pale she looked beneath her wide-brimmed hat. She made no attempt to speed up, and the dejected droop of her shoulders fueled his impatience."I appreciate that an afternoon spent admiring traditional crafts and customs is not likely to top your list of exciti
Her feet briefly touched the floor, and he spun her around, tugged her zip down her spine, and removed her dress before she had time to catch her breath. Her bra went the same way before he lifted her again and threw her onto the bed as if she were a rag doll, his eyes glittering with a mixture of anger and sexual hunger that made Kateโs stomach dip."At night, Iโm happy to give you all the attention you could possibly want," he growled, his shoes, trousers, and shirt hitting the floor with barely controlled savagery until he stood in his silk boxers. "This is the only bed youโll ever sleep in." The boxers joined the rest of his clothes, revealing his powerful, unashamedly aroused body in all its glory. "But I wouldnโt bank on sleeping for many hours yet."Kate stared up at him, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she struggled to control the wild excitement that was pounding through her veins. She was conscious that she was wearing nothing but a pair of tiny lace pants and the pric
Clearly embarrassed, Aaliyah determinedly changed the subject to Hazem and how fast he was growing. But although Kate smiled and made token conversation, her mind was whirling. If Malikaโs family had expected her to marry Ahsan, was she the woman he had been engaged to years agoโthe woman Jamila had said he had loved? But, if so, why had they not married? It didnโt make sense, and she brooded miserably as she stared at Ahsan. He was smiling at Malika and clearly enjoying her company. Perhaps they had argued and broken off their engagement. Was he now regretting his lost chance to marry a beautiful, clever Arab girl who would have made him the perfect wife?From that moment on, the party became a blur of faces and stilted conversation with people she had never met before. She was sure they viewed her as an oddity, with her pale skin and vivid hairโand her glaring lack of sophistication. But until his father had recovered, Ahsan was king, and one of her wifely duties outside of the bedr
As Ahsan had predicted, his team of advisors was waiting for him when they arrived back at the palace. Even on the journey across the desert, heโd had his mobile phone clamped to his ear, and Kate had sat silently beside him, lost in her thoughts. The honeymoon was over, and he had made it abundantly clear that he now saw her role as his wife as a walk-on partโor perhaps a lie-down part, she thought bitterly. But what had she expected? She had married him for Hazem, and he had married her for sex, and they had each gotten what they wanted.At least she had Hazem, she told herself later that evening, when she tucked the toddler into bed. She had missed him desperately, and his evident delight that she was back was a comforting balm to her raw emotions. She was Ahsanโs wife, a member of the Royal Family of Qubbah, and no one could ever take him away from her now.But as she prepared for the state banquet, her insecurities returned, and she felt sick with nerves. She had been horrified w